Dr Meadows - I just happened to be talking to some colleagues when the name 'Derek Trotter' cropped up. So I asked if I could read your GP's report and have a look at your tests. I was amazed. I found myself reading about this non-smoking, tee-total, celibate, vegetarian, health-freak. I thought: can this be the same Derek Trotter that I know and begrudgingly admire? That uptight, wheeling dealing, Pina Colada lout. The Castella King. The Curry Connoisseur. The same man who has lived his life on nervous tension, fried bread and doubtful women?!
This episode feels like it goes a bit under the radar, but in terms of laughs per minute it must be up there - there are so many quick one liners and quick punchlines, it would probably be my longest blog post yet if I picked out all of my favourites. It's title makes you remember Del's illness, but the other central plot of the séance delivers just as many classic moments.
Del has been getting pains in his stomach, and refuses to see a doctor about it. For him seemingly doctors are like any other position of power: people to be avoided. He's off for a vindaloo early in the episode, Rodney explains it as "an alternative medicine" for Del - not seeing that this is ultimately what his problem has been. Del also privately admits to Albert that he hasn't paid 3 months rent and the council are looking to evict them. He takes the stress and the burden of this upon himself, yet again demonstrating his protective nature over Rodney.
His mood is lifted however when he realises that Albert's new lady friend. Elsie Partridge, was once a famous spiritual medium and people would pay thousands of pounds to connect to lost loved ones through her. (We never found out if the medium-sized dress would've fitted - one of my favourite jokes of the episode.) Not to miss an opportunity to reverse his fortunes he hatches a plan to bring Elsie out of retirement.
Del - Me and Elsie Partridge - what a combination! The old-age pensioner with a priceless gift, and a successful yuppy who's brassic flint!
As the séance is about to begin, Boycie is initially very dismissive of the concept. Yet the revelation of his middle name being 'Aubry' and the message about Marlene suddenly becoming pregnant calls into doubt any scepticism. After the boys' mum delivers an order to Del to go to a doctor, Albert thanks Elsie for fabricating the story, something that she claims she's never done before.
There's some wonderful lines in this scene, and Elsie's act is very convincing. We have everyone explaining to Elsie the situation around Boycie and Marlene struggling to have kids, Trigger delivering the kicker line "he's low on something...!" As the session comes to a close there's another instance of brilliantly timed humour (which there's a lot of in this series), in Nerys bursting through the door to announce "Lager's off!" scaring the entire room.
Del finally agrees to visit the doctor, expecting to find Dr Meadows (who's someone you can talk to, he's more like a mate). Del's interaction with Dr Shaheed are great. We get a breakdown in communication in two ways - firstly in Del's cockney rhyming slang, and then what the Doctor has asked Del to do (strip to the waist).
Dr Shaheed - Where on your body?
Del - Oh right. I get it in the old New Delhi.
Dr Shaheed - New Delhi??
Del - Yeah, the belly - the belly! You're not from round these parts are you?
Dr Shaheed - No, I'm from New Delhi!
Del in hospital with a mystery illness should be a scarier moment than it is, as always John Sullivan finds the funny - straight off with his pyjamas and silly lines like.
Del - All this fasting makes you hungry!
We've had a real dissection of Del's character in this episode and it confronts a possibility of life without him, something Rodney refuses to engage with. It's Del's diet and stress that causes it - and his mind is put to rest further by Dr Meadows' calming chat explaining that "a lot of yuppies suffer from it". Straight away we know that Del is unlikely to be a changed man as a result of this ordeal.
Tomorrow's episode - Little Problems
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